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Spare portions of the European Robotic Arm to be delivered to the International Space Centre by Space Shuttle Atlantis

The European Robotic Arm (ERA) is the second 'intelligent' robot arm for the International Space Station (ISS). ERA will be used to service the Russian segment of the ISS and to transfer small payloads directly to space via MLM's special airlock, liberating astronauts from time-consuming, fatiguing and potentially hazardous tasks outside the Station.

The Shuttle's main cargo is Russia's Mini Research Module 1 (MRM-1), with ERA's spare mid-section attached. Hopefully, it will never be needed. Atlantis is also carrying the MLM airlock, a portable work platform and an MLM radiator. ERA's other spare parts can be delivered later on smaller, unmanned craft, if needed, but this long and bulky composite of two limbs and elbow joint needs the Shuttle's help.

A walking arm
The complete operational ERA will be launched in 2012 by a Proton rocket, attached to the MLM. ERA consists of two 'end-effectors' - dexterous hands, attaching the arm to the Station and routing power and command links - two wrists, two limbs and an elbow joint, together with electronics and cameras. Both ends can act as either a hand or the base. Longer than 11 m, ERA can walk around the ISS under its own control, hand-over-hand between base points. Astronauts can control it from inside or outside the Station.

"The importance of this launch is wider than just the launch of a spare arm without hands," explains Philippe Schoonejans, ERA project manager."The fact that the Russian space agency launches on this flight with MRM-1 several pieces of hardware designed for operation by ERA makes this launch a precursor for the operational phase of ERA."

(News story taken from the ESA website)